Nauru Half-Day Loops by Road

The geography in short

Nauru sits by itself. The nearest land is Banaba in Kiribati, roughly 300 km away to the east-southeast, and Banaba has no passenger ferry or visitor facilities. Tarawa and the rest of the Gilbert Islands lie beyond 700 km. Inside the country there are no domestic flights, no ferries and no outer islands. Every journey in the republic is a drive of minutes along one road.

The calendar closes the other door

Nauru Airlines operates a few flights a week, so a short hop in from abroad is impossible. Visitors fit their stay between one rotation and the next, and three nights is the usual minimum. A trip that starts and ends on one day is not part of the timetable.

What to do with a free half-day

Treat each outing as a loop from your hotel on the paved ring road, about 19 km around. Drive on the left.

Loop A: the high ground. Command Ridge, at 65 m the top of the island, has twin Japanese guns and an underground bunker that opens to a torch. Continue onto Topside’s pinnacle country with a local driver. Start early, wear closed shoes and take water.

Loop B: the south-west. Buada Lagoon lies in a green basin of coconut, breadfruit and tamanu, and a road runs around it. People live along the shore, which is private land, and swimming there is not advised. Finish at Moqua Well in Yaren, an underground lake used for drinking water in the war. Keep out of the water, go into the caves only with company and expect mud after rain.

Loop C: the east coast. Anibare Bay is a 2 km curve of white sand with limestone behind it. Rip currents and heavy surf mean the open water is off limits, and no lifeguards work here. People swim in the fishing harbour built in 2000, so ask local advice first.

Tips for the loops

  • Go early: the equatorial sun is hard by midday and Topside has no shade.
  • Carry drinking water. Corner stores along the ring road sell bottled water.
  • Stray dogs wander some coastal villages, so keep children and bags close.
  • Combine two loops in a day only if you start at first light.

Moving around

Cars can be hired through your hotel or through Capelle & Partner in Ewa. Bring Australian dollars, because cards are refused and the single ATM at Menen Hotel is often out of cash. Remember that the visa must be approved before you fly.

Booking

Day tours are arranged on the island, but you can check Viator for new listings. Entry rules are on the UK government page for Nauru , and flights are at Nauru Airlines .

Read more: Multi-day trips in Nauru and the Nauru 3-day itinerary .